Coming to a Nursery Near You

I’ve mentioned before that some of my closest friends are actually friends I’ve met online, particularly through blogging.  Blogging allows people access to you that even your real-time friends sometimes don’t get.  I know I can write about things a lot easier than I can talk about them.  I think that’s why people can get so involved in a stranger’s life so easily.  Because it’s real, it’s personal. 

That’s one of the reasons why I felt such a connection to Susan, who at that time was known simply as WhyMommy.   I first became introduced to her when she began her incredibly painful journey into the unknown of IBC (inflammatory breast cancer). She’d written a post about the how she didn’t know that when she went for her appointment with her oncologist that the last time she’d breastfed her son was *the last time* she’d breastfed her son.  Her post just about *that* left me in tears, heart breaking for her.  Of course, it was because I had just had Zachary and was breastfeeding and was in the throes of the hateful weeks months after a newborn when you’re just too tired to do anything but cry.  But her writing struck my heart, and I had to follow her.

I followed her through her appointments and her eventual surgery – and then another – and she faught so hard to get through it, while balancing a toddler and an infant (with the help of her incredible hubby and a LOT of friends ).  She shone through, though, and came out of it stronger, and gave me someone to really admire.  In fact, one of my first thoughts about moving to this area was that I might eventually get to meet her, as she lives under 2 hours away.

Well, now I find out that she’s going through this again.  She’s waiting for results – again.  Her doctor tells her it might be this, it might be that – but the fact is, it might be cancer – AGAIN.  It might be a THIRD type of cancer to assault her body in the last THREE YEARS!

She doesn’t want sorries. She just needs LOTS and LOTS of hugs and positivity.  She needs prayers, if you pray, but she just needs all that good and happy energy sent her way.  Please do. 

 

Susan, Team WhyMommy is at your service.

Because so many people I know personally have found their way to my blog, which is completely my fault, I also have to edit what I write when I’m upset.  Those postings are posted somewhere else, and if you’re interested, you can email me for that.

This is the edited version of my birthday weekend.

Friday, I received lots of facebook greetings, my mom sang to me TWICE, and the kids & Jimmy bought me a chocolate cake and a Hoops & YoYo card about sharing said birthday cake lol

Saturday, we went to lunch because Ryan’s gives a free birthday lunch/dinner for your birthday, and it was yum and we all overate, and then wanted to pass out.

We had Libby’s (and Jimmy’s) hair cut.

We also went to pick up some sort of rack for Anthony & Jimmy’s musical equipment obsession.

We came home and did some stuff.

Then Jimmy & Anthony went out birthday shopping, and when they came home, they gave me the gifts. They included kahlua & creme coffee, two very nice blouses, a photo album, James Patterson’s new book, some new grill toys (kabob rack & grill pan) and ummmmmmmm – oh, a card they then lost LOL

 

  Sunday, I went to the Flower & Garden show up in Hagerstown for a few hours, hoping for some nice flower pictures, but didn’t really get much.  The lighting was awful and there were very few actual flowers.  I did attend a seminar on bird houses & feeders, a new interest of mine, and bought a few things like garlic jelly (not nearly as good as Stonewall Kitchen’s!), some pepperoni bread from an older couple who just looked so … bored/sad/lonely (which sucked), and a very pretty yellow gerbera daisy plant that I have named Charlotte.

 

On the way to & from the show, I photographed some pretty substantial flooding that I came across, and also had a photo printed into a poster for someone to buy from me from our area’s freecycle off-shoot group.  The photo came out great even at 16” x 20” so that’s pretty exciting, to know my work will hang on someone else’s wall besides mine.

 

This is the photo that was purchased:

 

My friend Jane went to Florida this weekend, and a tiny part of me wonders if it’s maybe to elope

My sister’s got a blackberry and I’m insanely jealous now.   As I mentioned on Facebook, I’ve been thinking about a Kindle and want one even more now that I find out it has free wifi.  I can’t count the number of times I’ve wanted to do something online while I’ve been out on errands, and can’t because I have the cellular equivalent of two tin cans and a string for a cell phone.

 

Anthony’s hockey season has begun – this is his first time in a league of any sort, so he’s excited, as am I. Sorta.  I was watching him practice just SKATING the other day, and when he fell, my heart leapt into my throat.  Can hardly wait to see THAT happen more often.  NOT.

Libby had her first haircut today.  Yes, she’s turning 7 next month, and today was her FIRST haircut.  At least it was her first at a salon.  I’d cut about 4 inches off her hair when she was about 4, but today, her hair measured down to about the mid point of her THIGH. 

 

Back in November, when I donated another foot or so of my hair to Locks of Love, Libby had decided she wanted to do it too.  I reminded her over the last few months that it would require at least 10 inches of her beautiful blond hair.   She seemed to be ok with that, so today when Jimmy went in for his haircut, we all went and Libby was signed in.

 

I kept waiting for her to panic and back out but she didn’t.  It was actually quite funny because I made a bigger deal out of it than she did. 

 

Libby, getting ready for the first cut.

Libby, saying bye bye

Bye Bye!

 

 

It kind of looks like a ferret.

 

 

 

Libby, sitting pretty.  Doesn’t she just look adorable???????????????

She really does love the fact that her hair is going to go towards helping someone who needs it, and that will make them feel better – and she’s very excited about sending it in.  My baby girl is growing up!

Staples

 

1. Of all the hundreds of sizes and shapes bread seems to come in, what is your favorite?

–I love multigrain breads that have nuts in them.   I don’t like paying $5 a loaf though, so I’m hoping to get good at making my own!

 

2. What’s your favorite thing to eat with rice?

–pudding? LOL  Ok, other than pudding, I’d say when I make spanish rice & chicken casserole.

3. What are your feelings about milk?

–I LOVE milk, or at least I used to.  I miss it daily!

4. What was wrapped in the tortilla you most recently ate?

 

Hmmm – probably that spanish rice & chicken casserole!

   5. How many staplers are there in your house and where are they?

 

staplers?  2 – both of them in my desk drawer type thing.

You can do your own Friday 5 here.

1. Why are you making ____ more bread when they never finish it?  Ugh! The birds love it though.

2. I want you to take ___ A BATH/SHOWER.  Why must I have to remind them? Is it just a kid thing???. 

3. __________ then it will be on my terms.

-I have no idea what to put for this one.  Suggestions?

4. Talk sh*t about my kids___ and see what happens.

 

5. I could use a _ a VACATION!

 

6. Hawaii_ and then _Fiji.

 

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to nothing much, tomorrow my plans include _  going to the Big Bucks Bingo! for the first time and Sunday, I want to ___ we’re buying our grill & deck set!